Here’s How to Nail the Scandinavian Look That Everyone Loves

Create your own sense of hygge at home.

Minimalist colour palettes, cosy accents, and sleek modern furniture - all of these elements perfectly describe a home that features a Scandinavian aesthetic. The Scandinavian interior design originated in the Nordic countries in the mid-1950s and remains one of the most popular styles today, adopted in homes around the globe.

Looking for tips on how to achieve the minimalist Scandinavian interior design that the Nordic countries are well-known for? You've come to the right place! Here are some tips for incorporating Scandinavian design into your own home.

1. Shower your home with natural light

Given the scarcity of natural sunlight in Nordic countries, particularly during autumn and winter, Scandinavians embrace a less-is-more approach to window decor, keeping treatments to a minimum to welcome ample natural light into their living spaces. To achieve a Scandinavian design in your home, opt for minimalist window treatments such as blinds or sheer curtains, avoiding heavy drapes.

If you're lucky enough to have plenty of windows or large windows, embrace it, plan your living room around the windows and doors, and limit the window coverings to let the most light in. Draw inspiration from this Selangor duplex, where the designer opted for a sheer white curtain to provide a level of privacy, while still permitting natural light to illuminate the entire open plan living room. It also helps to maintain a bright ambience without the harshness of the sunlight during the day. The white curtain also pairs well with the white walls and light wood flooring that add warmth to the space.

2. Opt for neutral tones

Scandinavian design embraces tranquil colour palettes like whites, greys, and light beiges, ensuring a visually soothing environment. In a typical Scandinavian home, walls, ceilings, and furniture are often found in a white tone to create bright, airy spaces to counteract the long, dark days of winter.

To achieve a Scandinavian look in your own home, focus on incorporating these tones in order to create a calm and clean effect, as seen in this 650 sqft condominium in Johor. The harmonious blend of neutral and pastel tones found throughout the open-plan living space is relaxing and soothing, as if any stress floats away the second you enter the house.

3. Go for a light-coloured, wooden (or wood-look) flooring

Natural or light-coloured hardwood floors are a trademark element of Scandinavian interior design. It exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere while making the home feel bright and spacious.

So consider installing wooden floors to add warmth to your space. The floor does not have to be a real wood floor, though. You can also use faux wood flooring, like SPC (Stone Plastic Composite), laminate, or vinyl, that is more affordable, more accessible, and easier to maintain. Take a cue from this Scandi-themed condominium in Selangor, where the SPC flooring in a light wood tone lends a warm and calming atmosphere to the living room.

4. Add flowers and indoor plants

Scandinavians often draw on the nature outside them for inspiration, which is why plants and flowers are a popular choice of decoration, as they are an easy way to add a dash of colour to your overall neutral-toned space. On top of that, it gives space life.

Take design cues from this 3-bedroom apartment in Selangor, where the designer sprinkled some small potted plants in the living area without making the space look too busy. It helps to create a visually relaxing atmosphere that is sure to instantly reduce stress levels when the owners are at home.

5. Declutter your home

One of the most important characteristics of Scandinavian interior design is making sure that the space is clutter-free. To keep the space looking less cluttered and more visually relaxing, neatly store or let go of any unnecessary items that take up precious space in your home.

You can also create an uncluttered look by investing in more built-in storage space. This condominium 1236 sqft condo in Kuala Lumpur is a perfect example to illustrate the point. The designer incorporated floor-to-ceiling storage in the living room to hide clutter and smart storage solutions in the kitchen and entryway to ensure that these spaces are easy to maintain while lending a neat and organised look.

6. Choose simple furniture with clean lines

When it comes to choosing furniture, try to stay away from chunky pieces and go for simple and clean lines instead. You should also opt for furniture pieces that are free of ornamentation, bold colours or busy patterns.

In this Selangor condominium, the tables, chairs, and sofas found in the open-plan living room feature clean lines, smooth round edges, and tapered legs. The simplicity of the design helps maximise the available space without overwhelming the room. It also helps to create an elegant and minimalist look, promoting a more relaxed and comfortable environment.

7. Swap busy patterns for cosy accents

That doesn't in any way mean your home's going to look flat though! Thanks to their emphasis on texture, Scandinavian design homes are anything but boring. Add knits, woven, fleece, velvet fabrics, plush throw pillows, and more to create a cosy space, but avoid going overboard and adding clutter. Remember, balance is key!

Take a cue from this condo in Batu Caves. The neutral colour palette in this living room is clean and simple, but the combination of various soft-touch textures in the room keeps it from feeling stark or clinical.

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